US bill to waive H-1B visa fees for public school teachers brings hope for international educators

A new bill introduced by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski seeks to exempt public school districts from a $100,000 federal fee on new H-1B visas, aiming to protect the hiring of international teachers. Alaska’s schools rely heavily on foreign educators to address persistent staffing shortages, with more than 300 teachers working on H-1B visas. Education leaders say the exemption could help maintain global recruitment pipelines and sustain opportunities for qualified international educators, including those from India.